Students

BIOL2230 – Neurophysiology

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kevin Danastas
kevin.danastas@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 1000 level or above including (BIOL2220 or (20cp from (BIOL1110 or BIOL1210 or ANAT1001 or MHHS1002 or ANAT1002 or (PSYU1104 or PSYU1101) or (PSYU1105 or PSYU1102) or COGS1000))
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This Unit considers the structure and function of the nervous system. We begin with an overview of the functional organization of the central and peripheral divisions of the nervous system. We discuss how the selective permeability of the cell membrane gives rise to the electrical properties of excitable cells. We look in detail at the generation, propagation and transmission of neural signals, and examine the important principles of sensory physiology such as transduction, adaptation and stimulus coding. Having covered these basic principles, the unit goes on to explore the somatosensory system, and the nerves and organs that give rise to the special senses (vision, hearing, taste and smell) are also discussed. We next examine the structure and physiology of muscle cells, and the central control of motor function. Lastly, we cover the autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system, both of which regulate numerous physiological processes throughout the body.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Good Health and Well Being

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain how neural signals are generated, transmitted and processed in different parts of the nervous system
  • ULO2: Understand how the nervous and endocrine systems interact
  • ULO3: Synthesise information taken from the scientific literature about the nervous system and present it to your peers in a concise format
  • ULO4: Assemble basic electrophysiology recording equipment and perform simple electrophysiological experiments
  • ULO5: Analyse and interpret the results of simple tests of neural function on human and/or invertebrate animal subjects

General Assessment Information

Requirements to pass this unit

To pass this unit, you must achieve a total mark equal to, or greater than, 50%.

Attendance and Participation

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Late Submission Policy

  • 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.
    • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
    • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.
  • After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.
  • Extensions:
    • Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.
    • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted:

AT1 Lab Book Portfolio and AT2 Scientific Poster - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Lab book portfolio 30% No 24/04/2026 Individual Yes Open
Scientific poster 25% No 22/05/2026 Individual Yes Open
Final Exam 45% No Exam Period Individual No Observed

Lab book portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 24/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will prepare and submit a lab book portfolio based on lab activities that involve collection and analysis of neurophysiological data. These activities link with lectures and other information sources and test your knowledge of the relevant neural systems.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how neural signals are generated, transmitted and processed in different parts of the nervous system
  • Synthesise information taken from the scientific literature about the nervous system and present it to your peers in a concise format
  • Assemble basic electrophysiology recording equipment and perform simple electrophysiological experiments
  • Analyse and interpret the results of simple tests of neural function on human and/or invertebrate animal subjects

Scientific poster

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: 22/05/2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will be assessed on your ability to present a data set and synthesise information on a neuroscience topic as a scientific poster presentation.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Synthesise information taken from the scientific literature about the nervous system and present it to your peers in a concise format
  • Analyse and interpret the results of simple tests of neural function on human and/or invertebrate animal subjects

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 45%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

The final exam will be an invigilated exam held during the formal examination period and will assess your understanding of content presented in both lectures and laboratory classes.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how neural signals are generated, transmitted and processed in different parts of the nervous system
  • Understand how the nervous and endocrine systems interact
  • Analyse and interpret the results of simple tests of neural function on human and/or invertebrate animal subjects

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Recommended text

The textbook for this unit is “Principles of Human Physiology” by Cindy L Stanfield, sixth edition, global edition, published by Pearson. Available electronically through the 'Unit readings - Leganto' Block in iLearn.

Week 1

Lectures will commence in week 1. Please refer to your personal timetable and the sections below for more information.

Lectures 

There will be two lectures each week. No in-person lectures for this unit. Each week's lectures will be made available through H5P. Lectures are often broken up into shorter chunks to make them easier to listen to, and are linked very closely to the textbook material so the supporting reading is very clear. All lecture notes will be available in the week-by-week sections on iLearn. 

Practical classes

Practical classes for all students will be taught face-to-face and will be on campus. They will be held in labs 120 and 160 in building 14 Eastern Rd. Please refer to your personal timetable to identify the specific practical class you enrolled in. All notes and materials for the practical classes can be found on iLearn. 

Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email or through announcements on iLearn. Queries to the unit convenor can be via email, or private message via iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page. 

Student feedback from the previous offering of this unit was very positive overall, with students pleased with the clarity around assessment requirements and the level of support from teaching staff. As such, no change to the delivery of the unit is planned, however we will continue to strive to improve the level of support and the level of student engagement. 

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook